• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
NYK's Azalea Leader, a new-generation liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), made its maiden call at Hambantota International Port (HIP).
Built in 2026 and sailing under the Liberian flag, the nearly 200-meter long Azalea Leader arrived at HIP from Singapore, carrying 4,810 vehicles for transshipment and another 47 units for local discharge. The vessel has a maximum capacity of 7,000 units and belongs to the latest generation of vehicle carriers that have entered global service.
NYK operates regular services connecting Singapore and Hambantota, and the Azalea Leader has been assigned to this route. Its call coincides with the increasing volume of vehicles transiting through Hambantota destined for Middle Eastern markets.
The vessel also represents the shipping sector's transition towards more efficient and lower-emission vessels. The Azalea Leader operates on LNG dual-fuel technology and incorporates exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology in its main engine to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
"The inaugural arrival of the Azalea Leader is significant because we are increasingly seeing shipping lines deploying their newest and most sophisticated vessels through Hambantota. This demonstrates the critical role HIP is playing in the regional RoRo sector and highlights the port's potential as the volume of cars transiting through Hambantota continues to grow," stated Wilson Qu, CEO of HIPG.
The CEO added that managing vessels of this generation also demonstrates the operational capabilities HIP has developed, as "customers need assurance that a sophisticated vessel will be managed efficiently, safely, and without unnecessary downtime. The trust placed in HIP to bring modern vessels like the Azalea Leader reflects the capability of our staff, systems, and infrastructure to meet those expectations."
HIP has progressively consolidated its position as a regional Ro-Ro transshipment hub, leveraging its strategic location on major East-West shipping lanes and its connection to automotive markets in the Middle East and other regions.
The growing volume of vehicles transiting through the port has contributed to the growth of HIP's overall vehicle handling business.
